Intelligent buildings for forward-thinking companies

Achieving connectivity in buildings

“Property connectivity” refers to a building’s ability to support technology and data infrastructure, and enable seamless connections. For companies looking for suitable commercial space, it is crucial to find a building that fulfils their requirements for modern technology and efficient space management.

A property’s future viability can therefore depend on its connectivity and the availability of the necessary interfaces to integrate intelligent technologies into the building infrastructure. This includes features such as broadband and mobile phone connections, intelligent energy utilisation, wireless communication systems and digital infrastructure for building management. “Digital readiness” is a characteristic that Deka Immobilien also consistently strives for in its existing buildings.

Connectivity assessment: What is important?

To assess the connectivity of a building, several key criteria should be considered:

Security: The first priority is to ensure secure data transmission and protection against cyber threats associated with the digital connectivity of buildings. A building should have robust security measures in place to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data.
Connectivity infrastructure: The availability of reliable broadband and mobile phone connections is crucial. A building should support a stable and fast internet connection to enable businesses to operate smoothly. It should have open interfaces and standards to enable seamless integration of different technologies and services.
User friendliness: “Smart” is something that happens in the background. This means that the building’s systems can be utilised without this being apparent. User-friendly automation opens doors for authorised users, remembers human preferences and manages the building technology without further user intervention.
Scalability: A connected building should be able to adapt to the changing needs of tenants and support growth.
It should offer sufficient capacity for future technological expansions.
Flexibility: Companies increasingly expect flexible and adaptable spaces that can be customised to their needs.
A building should have flexibility in its infrastructure to support different technologies and applications.

Outstanding digital infrastructure

When it comes to the quality of the digital infrastructure and connectivity of commercial properties, WiredScore creates transparency and comparability. WiredScore certification provides clear information on the digital infrastructure of buildings, ensuring global comparability. The certification covers factors such as reliability, user experience, the mobile network, internet access and future security.
The WiredScore certification was created in 2013 in collaboration with the City of New York and leading experts from the property, technology and telecommunications sectors under the patronage of then Mayor Michael Bloomberg. To date, more than 800 million square metres of space in 36 countries have been certified with WiredScore, including numerous Deka Immobilien buildings, such as the “Stantec Tower” in Edmonton, Canada, “My little Nation” and “17 Hoche” in Paris, France, as well as the Berlin office ensemble “Campus Hackescher Markt” and “Tower 185” in Frankfurt am Main. In Amsterdam, The Bank and The Rock have achieved WiredScore Platinum certification, setting the standard for digital connectivity and smart building excellence.

Ten buildings in Poland receive WiredScore certification

In Poland, too, Deka Immobilien has driven forward various measures to optimise connectivity in order to offer tenants a first-class, technology-supported user experience. Our result: In 2024, ten buildings received “WiredScore Gold” and “Platinum” certifications for their “excellent conditions in terms of digital infrastructure”. No fewer than four buildings – Browary Warszawskie, IBC, Atrium Garden and Generation Park Z – received the top “Platinum” rating. The Bema Plaza, Andersia Tower, Atrium 1, Mokotowska Square, North Gate and Grzybowska Park buildings received a WiredScore Gold plaque.

How does a building become a smart building?

To answer this question, it must be clear what “smart” actually means. While strong connectivity forms the basis for modern buildings, the transformation to a smart building goes one step further. Various technical components are required to make a building smart. Opinions on what constitutes a smart building vary greatly depending on the perspective. In order to establish smart building infrastructures as a new building standard, a standardised definition and a comprehensive understanding of the necessary changes within the property and construction industry are essential.
In a “Smart Building Study”, Deloitte has developed a 5-stage model that is based on the familiar stages of autonomous driving from the automotive industry and forms the foundation for a standardised understanding. Level 0 describes a predominantly manual building, level 4 a fully autonomous building.

Smart building – level-by-level model

Level 0: Manual
The building has no building control system. Control and data acquisition are completely manual.
Level 1: Assistive
Subsystems of the technical building controls (TGC) are controlled via a local, digitalised interface. Digital control via sensors and actuators.
Level 2: Partially automated
TGC subsystems are controlled remotely via the internet or the cloud (access inside and outside the building). Networking of sensors and actuators via IoT.
Level 3: Fully automated
TGC subsystems make their status data available to the integrated building control system and interact with a building information system and other data. System integration, data strategy, analytics.
Level 4: Autonomous
TGC (sub-areas) interact autonomously with other TGC sub-systems and are capable of forecasting and learning on the basis of internal and external data. Machine learning, AI, predictive analytics.

What makes a smart building, smart?

Smart buildings offer a wide range of benefits, including improved operating costs, employee attractiveness, optimised space management and a positive environmental impact.

Operating costs: Smart buildings can deliver significant operational cost savings; they improve operations through increased visibility and intelligent building technology, reduce downtime and disruption, and enable both occupancy-based and on-demand facility management services. This contributes to long-term economic efficiency, while protecting the environment at the same time.

Security: When it comes to security, the smart building boasts a great deal of features: modern fire alarm technology, dynamic escape route planning, burglary and theft protection. However, the digital systems themselves pose a new threat: Malfunctions or cyberattacks can paralyse the entire infrastructure – a high level of cybersecurity is required.

Well-being: A culture of employee well-being is one of the most important factors in employer branding, people and culture and recruiting today. You could say that smart technology creates the space for more interaction and well-being. Buildings with a high degree of connectivity, for example, enable intelligent lighting systems that simulate daylight and give workplaces perfect lighting. If you work in a smart building, the door opens by itself, the air conditioning system controls your preferred room temperature when you enter the room, and the coffee machine switches itself on.

Space management: Companies can utilise their spaces more efficiently.
Intelligent sensors and systems provide real-time data on the occupancy and use of rooms, leading to optimised room planning and better utilisation.

Sustainability: Although sustainability is not directly synonymous with connectivity, smart buildings help to reduce ecological footprints. Through the use of intelligent energy management systems, efficient lighting, etc., intelligent buildings consume significantly less energy than conventional buildings and thus contribute to sustainability.

One of the pioneer smart buildings is our Deka building “The Edge” in Amsterdam – a 40,000 square metre office building.

Not only are the offices integrated into the connectivity concept, but also cafés, restaurants, the 15-storey atrium and the underground car park. The Edge has almost 30,000 IoT sensors that collect anonymous data on pretty much everything that goes on in the building: This includes the building’s heating and cooling systems, lighting, room occupancy, printers and even coffee machines. The building consumes only around 30 per cent of the energy of a conventional office building of the same size. In addition, the entire IoT network uses machine learning algorithms that are not only geared towards optimising energy consumption and performance, but also user comfort and productivity.

New Work – innovative working in the smart building age.
The most important touchpoint for employees in the office building is an IoT network app, which navigates and supports numerous processes. It books the underground car park space, enables access, requests the lift, shows the way and ensures that the light temperature, air quality and heating are set as required at each workstation.